Head Coach Tim McKnight

My name is Tim McKnight, and I am the head coach for the St. Louis Chaos 8U girl’s softball team. Born & raised in Eureka, MO, I grew up with a passion for sports which has led me to the world of coaching. Growing up, I played soccer, baseball, and football through Ellisville Athletic Association, St. Alban Roe, and Eureka High School. I have now been coaching youth sports (softball, baseball, & soccer) since early 2019. My strong work ethic & growth mindset has proven to be an asset to my teams. My excitement for the game, continuous learning & solid teaching technique, & the high expectations I hold for my players brings a great coaching dynamic to my teams. As a coach, my biggest goals are to build a successful team while also teaching new techniques. I strive to instill life skills through sports that my players can take with them through adulthood in various aspects of their lives. Ultimately, I hope they keep their love and passion for the sport. My proudest accomplishment as a coach is watching my players succeed and seeing everything they’ve learned come together & executed correctly. Also, I love to see their joy and excitement in playing the sport and supporting one another on and off the field. I learn from them as much as they may learn from me, and my players push me to be a better coach. I am very proud of the work we’ve already put in and am looking forward to our growth and future success. When I’m not on a field coaching, I enjoy spending time with my wife and 3 kids. My favorite activities include hunting, spending time at the lake and on the boat, and completing home projects.

Assistant Coach Jeff Deleiko

Hi, my name is Jeff Deleiko and I am the assistant coach to the St. Louis Chaos 8U Girls team. Currently, I am a husband and father of two daughters with a baby boy expected in early November 2023. Growing up, I was surrounded by sports and am the youngest of 3 boys. I grew up playing soccer and baseball for Eureka Sports Association (ESA). I have always loved sports and once I entered high school, I made the decision to focus on soccer. During my sophomore year of high school I was asked to join the Varsity team where we went on to win districts against Lafayette. Unfortunately, we lost during sectionals. I continued to play soccer until my senior year of school; when I made a decision to step away from the game due to poor coaching and staff. This experience is what has shaped my coaching style and approach with young athletes.

After high school and this experience, I continued to pursue other opportunities to stay in the game by playing recreational softball and indoor soccer with both men’s and co-ed leagues. I continued in these programs for many years, even my wife joined in playing both the co-ed leagues for soccer, softball, and even kickball. Upon having out first child, Kaleigh (currently an 8U player), we both took a little break from sports to raise her and once, she was able to join in various leagues, I took up coaching.

My biggest goal as a coach is to ensure the players are learning the foundation of the game, making friends, and enjoying the sport. I believe in hard work and discipline while fostering a supportive, calm, and encouraging atmosphere; things I wish were present throughout my own sports career, especially in high school. My proudest moments as a coach are watching athletes grow and master a given focus area and the smile it brings to their face when they recognize how their hard work has paid off.